Chapter 10

"So we're all set. I've got everything booked and ordered. All that's left is for us to meet with Rev. Taylor – he won't marry us without a premarital counseling session." CJ saved the best for last.

Matt just looked at her. "Counseling? What for? We're not having mental issues; we just want to get married, for Pete's sake!"

"He just wants to make sure that we understand what all is involved in a marriage." CJ knew she was going to meet with some resistance.

"Well, it's not like we're a pair of teenagers or something. We know what marriage is about." He got up and walked to the balcony. It had been a week since the surgery and he was happy to ditch the crutches – even if CJ thought it was too soon. Walking wasn't so bad, but standing up and sitting down was still a little tricky at times.

"Look, Matt. It's no big deal. Just a formality. Look at it from his point of view. He doesn't know us. Can you really blame him?" She walked over to him and started rubbing his back with little circular motions using only her thumbs. It had the desired effect: he calmed right down and relaxed.

Turning around to look at her, Matt said, "It's just that I don't have any doubts about it, CJ. I've done some stupid things in my life, I admit that. But this isn't one of them. As a matter of fact, it's the smartest thing I've ever done. And nobody is going to talk me out of it. Period." He leaned down and kissed her.

She looked up at him. "So it's no big deal then, is it? Tell him what you've just told me." She kissed him back.

"But why should I have to tell him at all? It's our business, not his." He kissed her a little more intensely.

With a sultry voice and running her fingers through his hair, CJ told him, "Because, if we want to use his services it's part of the deal. No counseling, no…you get the idea, right?" With that, she kissed him like never before – and she could hear a muffled agreement through the kiss.

What neither of them knew was that at that very moment they were being watched through the scope of a high powered rifle.

"Maybe we should take this conversation back inside, Miz Parsons, soon to be Mrs. Houston." Matt picked her up.

"Matt, put me down, you're going to hurt your knee! Come on, now!" She couldn't help laughing at him as he put her over his shoulder and started into the room. Just as he cleared the threshold, the glass door exploded.